The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact has taken a step closer to reality, according to Ken Cuccinelli, former Virginia attorney general, who discussed the issue with The Daily Signal. The compact aims to ensure that the winner of the national presidential popular vote receives the majority of the electoral votes, potentially making the Electoral College system less relevant.
Virginia recently joined the compact, bringing the total electoral votes to 222, with 18 states and the District of Columbia now on board. The compact will take effect if enough states join to total at least 270 electoral votes. Cuccinelli expressed concerns that if the compact is implemented, it could radically change the 2028 presidential election, including the possibility of litigation and a shift away from the Electoral College system.
Cuccinelli noted that losing states like South Carolina and Texas would be challenging for the compact's opponents, and predicted that the national popular vote could become a reality in the near future. The compact's implementation could have significant implications for the presidential election process, potentially making some states, including Virginia, less relevant in the outcome.
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact was first proposed after the 2000 presidential election, in which Al Gore received more popular votes than George W. Bush but lost the Electoral College vote.